It’s always exciting to drive a first of anything, and driving the Maserati Granturismo Folgore ticked off a few of them. This is the first real two door high performance electric vehicle. Yes, there have been a few hypercars, like the Rimac Nevera and the Lotus Evija but among the road sports cars and GTs, this is unique.
Fortunately for me, the car I was driving was the very first model in the UK – an Italian, left-hand drive model, shipped over for early testing ahead of the UK deliveries. And based on the mileage I was one of the first behind the wheel too.
Having previously reviewed the Trofeo version of the Maserati Granturismo (the most powerful V6 model), I already knew the car quite well. So I was particularly interested to find out how different this battery electric model was. Removing the V6 engine from a Maserati to some is like removing the heart but what went in its place has made this the most powerful model by far.
While the Trofeo delivers 550hp and a 3.5-second 0-62mph acceleration from the V6 Nettuno Twin Turbo engine, the Folgore produces 761hp and a 2.7-second 0-62mph from its trio of 300kw electric motors and 92.5kWh battery. That’s a serious jump in power, so how does it feel?
How much is the Granturismo Folgore?
As well as being considerably more powerful than its ICE siblings, the Folgore is also considerably more expensive. It starts from £179,950 / $192,000 compared to the Granturismo Modena which starts at £133,120 / $158,000 and the Trofeo which starts from £163,590 / $190,000.
Compared to other manufacturers, that price difference between petrol and BEV versions is actually relatively small – especially in the US. However, it does put the Folgore up against some tough competition. The top of the range Porsche Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo is about 17 grand less, while the Aston Martin DB12 starts from only six grand more.
On the electric grand tourer side, you also have the new Lotus Emeya, who’s top of the range Emeya R model starts from just £129,950 or $165,000. However this is a bigger four-door tourer, like the Porsche.
Features and build
In looks, the Granturismo Folgore is nearly identical to the petrol models. That curved bonnet, raised over the large wheels – 20-inch at the front and 21-inch at the back. The low body, which is so unusual for an electric model, thanks to the placement of the battery in front of the dashboard and into the regular engine area.
There are a few tell tale signs though. First the model signage about the vents on the wing, giving its Folgore name – lightning in Italian. Then there’s the lack of the twin exhaust pipes on each side – instead just more coloured bodywork.
Finally there’s the lack of fuel cap. The electric charging hatch doesn’t sit on the rear rear arch like on the petrol models. Instead, it’s just below the left rear light – and has a motorised opening and closing when pressed.
Aside from this, the car is identical. One feature I hadn’t seen before though was the digital rearview mirror, which is available for all Granturismo models as part of the Tech Assistance pack. This pack also includes a head-up display and a surround view camera, which is handy for parking.
The rear camera sits on the roof of the car, like a large aerial fin and really stands out. The view it gives you through the rearview mirror is superb though, and makes it much easier to keep an eye on vehicles behind you from the low cockpit.
As standard, the Granturismo Folgore comes in solid silver (grigio incognito) or metallic silver (bianco astro) paint. However, there are four other metallic colours and 27 specialist ‘fuoriserie’ colours. The Blu Victory option on my test car adding £27,000 to the price tag.
There’s a choice of eight different alloys to choose from too, but the standard Aura design glossy black alloy choice look very impressive, giving an almost three-spoke effect. Should you wish, you can also swap the bronze brake callipers for black ones – though I’m not sure why you’d want to.
Inside, there’s a choice of natural leathers, regenerated nylon fibres and carbon fibre to adorn the seats, dash and trims in a range of subtle colours. While I like the plain black option of my test car, the chocolate brown option or the cream and blue do look lovely.
The roof is solid in the Granturismo which can feel a little dark compared to some glass-roofed cars. While there is a GranCabrio soft top version of the Granturismo, the fully electric Folgore version isn’t available in it.
The Tech
Nothing has changed on the tech side for this electric Folgore model. You still get that 12.2-inch driver display for the instruments and the split screen central display, made up of a 12.3-inch main screen and a lower 8.8-inch screen below for the climate controls.
This Maserati Intelligent Assistant (MIA) system is powered by Android OS and works nicely, though the touchscreen does require a harder press than I’m used to in order to select some functions. You can also use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto wirelessly from your phone.
The only difference on the OS is the addition of the dedicated electric charging screens, which show you not only how much charge you have, but provide details on power usage and the power going to the different motors.
The premium sound system by Sonus Faber is a must for audiophiles, as it gives you 19 speakers in the car. This delivers a great sound with lots of power making it a perfect soundtrack to what is an otherwise very quiet drive.
The Tech Assistance pack – which includes the digital rearview mirror, surround camera and head-up display – is a very useful addition to the Granturismo. In fact, I’d say this is pretty essential as an upgrade at just under four grand. If you intend to do longer journeys, the Advanced Driver Assistance package is also worthwhile. This includes the adaptive cruise controls and active driving assistant, to give you a Level 2 autonomous drive (with hands on the wheel and eyes on the road).
What's it like to drive?
The Granturismo Folgore uses three 300kW electric motors in place of that 3.0-litre V6 – one on the front axel and two on the rear. Between them, this delivers 751hp – in theory it could deliver 1200hp, as each motor can do 402hp, but it’s been limited. It’s considerably more than the 542hp in the Trofeo, which is the more powerful of the two petrol models.
Despite being heavier than the Trofeo by nearly 500kg, it’s quicker too, giving you a 0-62mph in just 2.7 seconds. That difference is noticeable, though both are more power than you’d ever need on UK roads.
Otherwise, the driving feels very similar. The power distribution between the front and rear wheels means that the car feels glued to the road. That’s especially true when you take it up to faster speeds and the suspension lowers to make it more aerodynamic.
Driving in GT mode still feels relaxed and peaceful, making it perfect for those longer journeys. Switch up to sport and everything tightens up a bit – from the dampers and suspension to the steering and throttle response. If you’re feeling brave, you can switch up to Corsa mode, which turns off the traction control and gives you that raw driving experience.
Thanks to the electric power, there’s a new driving modes on the Folgore, called Max range. This optimises the performance to give you the best performance from the battery, allowing you to drive further. The maximum range here is just 280 miles, so it can come in useful.
I found in GT mode that I was still able to get close to 250 miles of range, which is pretty good for a performance car. Put your foot down in the Trofeo, and you’re unlikely to get much more than 350 out of a tank of fuel.
Those gear paddles on the steering wheel are still in place on the Folgore but now they provide the changes in regenerative braking. There are four levels available, going from Drive minus to Drive plus. Even with the maximum regeneration it’s not quite one-foot driving but you really feel it kick in when you take your foot off the accelerator.
The one thing we have to talk about is the noise. Without that V6, the Folgore definitely misses that familiar growl, but the synthesised sound is actually pretty good. It’s at a low enough volume that it does feel fake, but just gives you a bit of feedback when you press down on the accelerator. The sound does increase in volume when you switch to Sport or Corsa mode too, as you would expect from the engine noise on the V6.
If you need to recharge, the Folgore does support fast DC charging of up to 270kW and AC charging at up to 22kW. During my time with the car I was getting over 100kW on a fast (but busy) IONITY charger, which is very respectable.
Should I buy the Granturismo Folgore?
If you’re considering buying a GT car, this is currently the only two-door fully electric model. The Granturismo Folgore is an astounding car that proves that an electric model can still be a sports car. Aside from the lack of V6 growl, it performs very similarly to the other models in the range. Even the extra weight is cleverly hidden by the vehicle dynamics.
The sticking point for some though could be that range. While you don’t expect to get a massive amount of miles from any sports car, a Grand Tourer by definition is designed for long distances. So a sub-300 range feels a little limiting.
If however, your tours are more likely to be around town or weekends in the country, this is going to be less of an issue. The average daily drive for UK drivers is less than 20 miles a day – so you could go for nearly two weeks between recharging the Folgore.
Ultimately though, the Folgore is a really impressive car that just happens to be electric powered. That’s perhaps one of the biggest compliments you could give any vehicle.
